Amazing Journey

Passion

Scene Four Outside. The soldiers are on guard again. *Soldiers' Gossip*
Torasso	Forty days - !
Lombardi	Where does he get all the luck?
Torasso	Forty days -!
Rizzolli	The man is sick
Torasso	But forty days - !
Barri	Yes, he's sick of being stuck in the sticks.
Augenti	Who isn't?
Torasso	In Milan - !
Lombardi	He's gone Because it's gone a little thick with the Signora.
Rizzolli	Gentlemen -
Augenti	He'd better get out quick from the Signora.
Rizzolli	Gentlemen -
Barri	That's not an easy trick with the Signora.
Rizzolli	Gentlemen! You know what I think?
Others	What?
Rizzolli	I think we need a drink!
Lombardi	I'll say.
Rizzolli	I'll say!
All	I'll say! I'll say! I'll say!
Scene Five A train compartment. Clara strolls through. *Forty Days*
Clara	Giorgio, darling, Forty days' leave so soon! Imagine that, a whole forty days - Well, forty marinees. I'll be there to greet the train That carried you away from me Because it brings you home.
(Giorgio enters slowly. He has a blanket around him and carries a suitcase as he moves towards the train compartment where he sits)
	I'm filling up the room, our secret room With every flower in bloom. I'll have the fire lit, the table set, I'll wear the blue chemise. And once we're in our room, our secret room, Where I'll be able to care for you, Kiss you, embrace you, Be there for you ...
(She exits. The train whistle blows and, just as the train start to move, Fosca enters, carrying a small suitcase)
Giorgio	How could you? How dare you follow me?
Fosca	I've come to speak to you. .
Giorgio	I am sick, don't you understand? and you are the reason I'm sick.
Fosca	I apologize. Nothing could be further from what I wished for you. That is why I want to follow you to Milan. To see that you are well.
Giorgio	That is the reasoning of a capricious child. You can't do this.
Fosca	I heard what you said, Giorgio. I've come to tell you that I will keep my distance. I will stay out of your path. But I can be nearby, I can be there quietly waiting.
Giorgio	And this you think will make me love you?
Fosca	No, no. I am doing this because I love you.
Giorgio	My heart feels nothing for you. How many times must you hear this?
Fosca	This has nothing to do with your heart. This has to do with your eyes. What you see. If I were beautiful. If I were warm and soft to your touch - you would feel otherwise.
Giorgio (firm)	No. Your appearance is no excuse for the way you behave. My feelings towards you are because of your relentlessness, your constant selfishness and insensitivity.
Fosca	I'm sorry. No one has ever taught me how to love. I know I feel too much, Giorgio. I often don't know what to do with my feelings. You understand that, don't you?
Giorgio	(slowly, pleading) Fosca, you have to face the truth. Please. You have to give me up.
*Loving You*
Fosca	Loving you is not a choice, It's who I am. Loving you is not a choice And not much reason to rejoice, But it gives me purpose Gives me voice to say to the world: This is why I live You are why I live. Loving you is why I do The things I do Loving you is not in my control. But loving you, I have a goal For what's left of my life ... I would live, And I would die for you. (As music continues under)
Giorgio	Die for me? What kind of love is that?
Fosca	The truest love. Would Clara give her life for you? Would she? I would. Happily. In time you will come to see what is beautiful about me. Do you wish me to move to another compartment?
Giorgio	We're getting off at the next stop and I'm taking you back.. (getting up) You're freezing. Cover yourself up.. (He wraps his blanket around her) Do you want to get sickerI?
Fosca	(staring out the window) The moonlight makes even this landscape look lovely. Look over there. There seem to be faces in those rocks. They're smiling back at us.
Scene Six The Milan train station. *Transition*
Woman	How long were we apart?
Man	A month, a week, a day?
Woman	To feel your touch again
Man	You've been away
Doctor	Don't be offended if I'm amused Captain, but all this is quite bizarre, really. She led you back like a lamb.
Giorgio	You know her, and you know there is no way I could have acted differently
Doctor	You needn't worry. No one knows of her exploits.
Giorgio	I suppose I should be relieved, though in truth it matters little to me. And who told her I was leaving?
Doctor	I hardly thought it was a secret.
Giorgio	What is it you want, Doctor?
Doctor	I don't know what you mean.
Giorgio	You know what I mean. Why did you bring this woman into my life?
Doctor	Perhaps to get her out of mine. If only for a while. I thought it would help her. I thought it might bring her some small degree of happiness... I had no intention for it to turn to this, Captain. Honestly, I didn't. I apologize. She tells me that you're going to Milan,m but for only four days. I assume that is just a pretext and that you won't be coming back?
Giorgio	I don't want to be away from my duties that long. Excuse me, I have things to do.
Doctor	Captain Bachetti, you forget that I am your superior. You can't decide to forgo a sick leave. Has Signora Fosca brought you to this point?
Giorgio	Absolutely not. This is my decision.
Doctor	Don't you see what she is doing to you? To your mental state? I may have helped bring this woman into your life but I can also get you away from her. For your own good. I can see to it that you are transferred permanently. If I send a dispatch to headquarters, you'll be ordered to leave.
Giorgio	I don't want to be transferred.
Doctor	Why are you behaving this way?
Giorgio	I feel it is my duty to help her.
Doctor	Don't you understand, Captain? No one can help her. Good day.
(Clara and Giorgio stroll from the train station to a bench nearby; music under.) *Railway Sequence*
Clara	Giorgio, I didn't tell you in my letter Something even better, A surprise here at home: In a week my husband goes to Rome. It's the first time he's away, He'll be gone at least a day, Maybe two or even three. I can visit you at night, We'll be lighted by the moon, Not a shuttered afternoon. Just think of having time That we can call our own, Together and alone. Perhaps we'll take a drive into the country, And perhaps at last we'll share a sunrise Wouldn't that be beautiful - ?
Giorgio	Clara, I'm not taking my sick leave.
Clara	What do you mean?
Giorgio	I'm only staying four days.
Clara	It's that woman, isn't it?
Giorgio	There are many reasons -
Clara	No! You constantly write to me about her. You always speak of her when we're together. Giorgio, she's always on your mind! Do you love her?
Giorgio	Don't be ridiculous!
Clara	I hate this woman and I don't even know her.
Giorgio	There are times when I hate her, too.
Clara	Then why do you sacrifice yourself on her behalf?
Giorgio	I don't know. Clara, please don't be angry . This woman has no friends. No one to talk to. I know the power I have over herw. I didn't ask for this power - she bestowed it upon me. but somehow it carries responsibilities I can't seem to ignore.
Clara	She needs you.
Giorgio	Don't you need me, too?
Clara	Of course I do, Giorgio. But not like this woman.
Giorgio	Leave your husband
Clara	What?
Giorgio	Let's have a life together
Clara	Giorgio, you know that's not possible.
Giorgio	Everything is possible.
Clara	I would lose my child.
Giorgio	And what if you were to lose me?
Clara	I don't want to lose you, Giorgio. You knew my situation.
Giorgio	Let's run away together. We could take your child -
Clara	You're not thinking clearly. You're not yourself.
Giorgio	I am myself.
Clara	Where would we go? How would we live?
Giorgio	We would manage.
Clara	Giorgio, we are not two people who could ever just "manage". We have to carve out a life for ourselves around our present obligations. We have no choice.
Giorgio	We have a choice.
Clara	Yes, I suppose that's true Giorgio. Just as you have chosen to forgo your sick leave. I've often wondered if you would love me as much if I were free.
Giorgio	I would. You know I would. I love you.
Clara	And I love you.
Clara	You're not coming back, are you?
Giorgio	I'll be back.Clara, I'll be back. Let's stop this talk. Let's enjoy our four days together.